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SIPRI report: France and United States largest arms exporters

France ranks third on the global arms market, according to SIPRI, after a “dramatic increase” in its exports. The peace researchers have also identified the largest buyer.

By Carsten Schmiester, ARD Studio Stockholm

The Stockholm peace researchers at the SIPRI Institute are studying the long-term development of global trade in heavy weapons and weapon systems over five-year periods. Now they have compared the years 2010 to 2014 and 2015 to 2019 with each other. According to SIPRI expert Pieter Wezemann, the most significant result: “The countries that excel as arms exporters are the United States, which we estimate have increased their sales by 23 percent, and France – with a dramatic increase of about 73 percent.”

The average increase in global arms exports in the same period was 5.5 percent. The USA and France differ considerably in terms of their share of the global arms market. According to SIPRI, France is 7.9 percent, far behind the United States, whose share has increased from 31 to 36 percent.

Number two in business: Russia

So the United States is by far the largest arms exporter in the world. They alone account for more than a third of the global arms trade and have supplied a total of 96 countries. Half of their arms deliveries, some of which were already authorized under President Barack Obama, went to the Middle East in the crisis region – and half there to Saudi Arabia.

According to SIPRI, the USA is clearly ahead of number two in terms of exports: ahead of Russia, which recorded a decline of 18 percent – primarily due to declining sales to India. SIPRI now sees France as the third largest export nation in the world.

Germany mainly sells submarines

Germany has increased its exports by 17 percent and is now in fourth place, ahead of China and Great Britain. According to the report, the German share of global arms exports is 5.8 percent.

“Many of these weapons are sold within Europe, but also in many countries outside of Europe,” says Wezemann. “For example to South Korea and Algeria – or to Egypt and Qatar, which are much more controversial because of their geopolitical situation and governments.”

According to SIPRI, almost a third of German armaments companies’ deliveries went to Asia and Oceania. About a quarter went to other European countries, another quarter to the Middle East, the rest to American and African countries. Submarine deliveries accounted for more than a third of all German exports.

“Big question mark” when it is justifiable

The largest arms purchaser in the world is Saudi Arabia, followed by India and Egypt, Australia and China.

However, Wezeman is particularly concerned about the Middle East region: “Arms exports always affect the security situation. And when they go to countries that are in conflict, particularly when there is a risk of further escalation, there are big question marks,” he says . “Take, for example, Saudi Arabia, which is deeply involved in the war in Yemen and has been heavily criticized for this. To what extent do arms deliveries help the Saudis?”

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